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A security blanket for adults that promotes good sleep

I’ve suffered with bad sleep patterns for years, but I apparently haven’t known much about a lot of the simpler things that have been used for years to promote good sleep habits.  Instead of nighttime rituals, medications, light therapy, and the like, weighted blankets have been used in niche medical communities for many to promote sleep with forcing you to change your routines.  Gravity says “recently some scientific studies have shown the benefits of sleeping under a weighted blanket.  They have been shown to help people fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. Without a prescription, therapeutic training, or changes in their routine.”

The blanket should be weighted to about 7-12% of your body weight to simulate the feeling of being wrapped in a deep hug.  “Gravity uses the power of proprioceptive input (more commonly known as “deep touch pressure stimulation”), a well-regarded therapeutic method that stimulates pressure points on the body linked to improved sleep, mood, and relaxation.  Deep touch pressure stimulation has been shown to increase serotonin and melatonin, the hormones responsible for calming relaxation, while decreasing cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress. This natural, physiological approach decreases heart rate, blood pressure, and more, improving mood and promoting restful sleep and relaxation.”

The Gravity Blanket is available in 15, 20, and 25 pound weights and is sized to be used by a single person.  The inner duvet is filled with micro beads for weight, and the gridded quilting pattern keeps the weight evenly distributed.  Both the inner duvet and the removable gray microfiber duvet cover are machine washable.

The normal price for the Gravity Blanket is $279.00, but any weight is now available for $249.  Learn more and purchase your own Gravity sleep blanket at the Gravity website.

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A security blanket for adults that promotes good sleep originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Kizik handsfree sneakers feature Foot Activated Shoe Technology

Kizik design recently announced the launch of a new product line: a luxury handsfree sneaker designed for men and women. The shoe’s materials include 100% top grain leather and other premium textiles to ensure they are durable enough to provide enjoyment for many years. They come in three styles and multiple colors and textures for men and will be expanded to include a women’s line in the fall of 2018. The style in the picture above is the New York in Black.

Why are shoes a gadget?

The shoes feature a patented design that Kizik has dubbed F.A.S.T.® (Foot Activated Shoe Technology). The elements of F.A.S.T. include a wing at the top of the heel to let your foot in and out, a heel which collapses to let your foot in, a rigid tongue to ensure a hands free experience, and an adjustable width set by velcro on either side of the tongue. The shoes utilize a titanium wire to provide the spring necessary to allow the foot to enter hands free. The use of a wire spring provides all the energy to make this shoe work. As a result, the shoes fit automatically without using complex mechanics or electronics. The shoes are step-in and are different from sandals which are slip on. Unfortunately, no information is available about how to take off the shoes – is this process hands free too?

For more info

KIZIK shoes retail between $180-$190. They are available for purchase on KIZIK.com as well as in 17 locations nationwide, including select Dillard’s stores and Dillards.com. More information is available on their Facebook page here.

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Kizik handsfree sneakers feature Foot Activated Shoe Technology originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2018 at 4:15 pm.

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This helmet protects your melon and is easy to carry when you’re not wearing it

I was reading an article this week about head injuries. It mentioned that even one minor head injury can lead to a greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. That’s why you should always wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Helmets aren’t sexy and they bulky to carry when you’re not wearing them, which might be why some people skip them.

The Flat Folding Helmet from Morpher might not be sexy, but at least it solves the bulky problem because it’s foldable. The helmet features a design that allows it to collapse in half, with strong magnets that hold it closed when you don’t need to wear it. With the helmet folded, it can easily fit in your bag.

The Morpher Flat Folding Helmet is available in several colors and is priced at $149. You can find more info at morpherhelmet.com and buy one on Amazon.

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This helmet protects your melon and is easy to carry when you’re not wearing it originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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ZAGG Rugged Book iPad keyboard case review

Functionality and protection, that is what I want in a case for my iPads. While functionality is a nice feature to have, protecting my investment is a must. I have owned several iPads since their launch and my main protection choice was some kind of Smart Cover and a protective back. All of the smart covers I had formed some kind of stand to make the cover more functional, but I was always felt I was missing something when it came to functionality, a keyboard. Obviously, this idea was not lost on Apple because they introduced their Smart Keyboard for their iPad Pro series. But what about the non iPad Pro users? ZAGG a maker of accessories for tablets and phones has introduced its latest functional protection for the iPad, the Rugged Book.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

What is it?

The ZAGG Rugged Book is a protective cover and keyboard for the new iPad, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Air2 and iPad Air. With a builtin rechargeable backlit Bluetooth keyboard and a two piece design the case is both functional and practical for those on the go.

Hardware Specs

  • Width 9.84”
  • Height 7.20”
  • Thickness 1.10”

What’s in the box?

 

  • Rugged Book keyboard
  • Detachable case
  • USB to Micro USB charging cable
  • Quick Start Guide

Design and features

The ZAGG Rugged Book is basically two pieces, the case that holds the iPad and the keyboard with a hinge mechanism to hold the iPad and case securely in several configurations.

For clarification, the section that holds my iPad is called the detachable case by ZAGG and the keyboard is called the Rugged Book so I will do the same. The back of the detachable case has cutouts for the camera and mic. According to the ZAGG website the case is made out of four layers of stainless steel, polycarbonate and rubber. I can definitely see the polycarbonate and rubber on the case, but I am not sure about the stainless steel (I think stainless steel is more likely on the keyboard section and hinged holder).

The detachable case has the proper cutouts on the top, bottom and sides, and the controls are easy to access. The cutouts for the Lightning cable and ear jack are large enough fit Apple designed and made products, but will also fit third party products as well. The rubberized material around the edges gives you a comfortable and secure gripping surface.

Although the case is a nice feature on the Rugged Book the keyboard is the workhorse. I have owned and reviewed several keyboards that I used for my various iPads in the past, and up until now the only one that was designed work well with iPads was the Apple Magic Keyboard. ZAGG has changed that, the Rugged keyboard is designed for iPads so it has a lot of features designed to work with iPads. The Rugged Book has a backlit keyboard and tablet function keys. The keyboard itself is similar to a laptop keyboard and in my estimate about 2/3rds the size of a regular keyboard. The keyboard is solid feeling and the keys are responsive. I have small hands and am not a touch typeset so the keyboard works great for all my needs. 

What I like

I love the overall look and feel of this setup, think of it like a netbook on steroids. It just has a rugged look and feel (some might say beefy). I like the backlit keyboard with the ability to change the color of the light and the brightness. Maybe one of the best features though is the fact that the keyboard is designed with the iPad in mind. Unlike a lot of generic keyboards the ZAGG Rugged Book keyboard has keys that specifically work with the iPad such as the home key, the apps running key and the keyboard hide/show key. 

What needs to be improved

Weight, the ZAGG Rugged Book is on the heavy side. I am guessing much of this is due to the battery in the keyboard. 

Final thoughts

To me, this is a great set up at least for what I want to do with it, some travel but mostly work around the house. It is more practical than having a separate keyboard and stand when you want to type on your lap or in bed. The Rugged Book is also great for traveling. At $129.99 the ZAGG Rugged Book may be a little pricey, but it is in line with other similar products. Available at the ZAGG website the Rugged Book should definitely be on your list f you are looking for a keyboard/cover combo for your iPad.

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ZAGG

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ZAGG Rugged Book iPad keyboard case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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The Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer – print your photos where you want and when you want


For those of us that like to be able to print photos on the go, there are a few options available to do just that task. A couple of days ago, I read about the Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer. It is primarily geared towards printing on the go from your Smartphone or tablet. It is very small and compact, and can easily fit in your pocket. Utilizing the Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer app, you can connect to it via Bluetooth and print 2” x 3” photos anywhere, and anytime, right from your phone. The paper for this printer has a peel and stick back.

The printer uses ZINK (Zero Ink) printing technology which prints using colorful dye-based crystals embedded within the paper. This is great since there is no ink to buy, nor does it suffer from ink drying up like inkjet printers. When printing, the printer uses heat to activate and colorize the crystals, and prints in a resolution up to 314 x 400 dpi. It has a paper tray capacity of 10 sheets.

The Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer is compatible with IOS 9.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later. You can purchase one at Amazon or B&H Photo Video for $129.

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The Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer – print your photos where you want and when you want originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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